Fun Kid's Fashions for 4th of July

Whenever I start to work on holiday-themed posts, I usually spend most of my time on food, crafts, and decor.  But today, I'm focusing on fashion!  Kid's fashion to be exact!   I looked around and found some really cute and fun kid's fashion items for the 4th.  Here's just a few of the things I found. Some of these are items you can purchase online, while others are fun fashion crafts that you can make at home.  And all of them will look great on your little patriot!

Red, White, and Blue and oh-so cute! I found this adorable personalized 4th of July shirt at My Little Pumpkin Designs on etsy.

I thought this bald eagle shirt was just too cute!  Head over to Family Fun for the tutorial.

Another great fashion craft. It's quite easy and economical to make this 4th of July crown from Family Fun.  How festive!

More 4th of July head gear.  Head over to Celebrations to find out how to make this Firecracker Hat.

I found these adorably sweet flip flops at Associated Content.  Then I followed the link and found them for sale, along with a lot of other cute fashion items at Oh So Cheeky Boutique.

-Jerri

4th of July Flag Treats

Photo Credit

I just love new spins on old favorites!  I found these 4th of July Flag Treats on Class Brain.  Wouldn't these be great to serve to the kids this weekend?  The Class Brain site also has other activities, worksheets, etc for the 4th.

Here's a list of what you'll need and the instructions to to make the treats.

What you’ll need:

Crispy rice treats
Airheads® Cherry bars
Airheads® White Mystery bars
Airheads® Blue Raspberry bars
Small kitchen knife or scissors
Small star-shaped cookie cutter (optional)

Directions:

Cut crispy rice treats into rectangles. Cut part of an Airheads® Blue Raspberry bar to make the upper blue corner of the flag. Cut alternating strips of Airheads® Cherry and White Mystery to make the flag’s stripes. Arrange pieces on crispy rice treat. Trim to fit. Using either a star-shaped cookie cutter, or by hand, cut out a star shape from an Airheads® White Mystery bar. Place star on the blue square. And you're done!

-Jerri
----------------------------
I'm posting a link to this post at:
It’s So Very Creative & It's So Very Thrifty hosted by It’s So Very Cheri
Make it for Monday hosted by Cottage Instincts
Made it Mondays hosted by The Persimmon Perch
Making the World Cuter Monday hosted by Making the World Cuter
Make Your Monday hosted by Twice Remembered
Metamorphosis Monday hosted by Between Naps on the Porch
DIY Day at A Soft Place to Land
Market Yourself Monday is hosted by Sumos Sweet Stuff
Marketing Mondays and Sharing Ideas Wednesday is hosted by The Trendy Treehouse
What Your Working with Wednesday is hosted by Me and My Bucket
Show & Tell Wednesday is hosted by Blue Cricket Design
Tip Me Tuesday is hosted by Tip Junkie
Week End Review is hosted by Tator Tots & Jello
Star on Saturday is hosted by Craft-Werk
Penny Pinching Party is hosted by The Thrifty Home
Show & Tell Friday is hosted by Romantic Home
Tidy Mom

Friday Favorites - Week 18

Another week gone by!  It's time once again to highlight your posts from last week! 

If you're featured this week, please take my "featured" button for your blog.  And if you're new here, I invite you to link up your favorite post(s) of the week with us!

I also have one quick announcement.  Next week, I'll be having sort of a mini-series for 4th of July. I'll be featuring some learning activities and other stuff for kids.  And I'll also be posting a summer time themed giveaway. 

I don't sew, largely because I don't have the patience it takes, so I was happy to find his project.  This is a No Sew Purse from Craft Envy. Cute! 

Last week Amanda shared a cute ladybug hat with us, and this week we have this Frog Baseball Hat from Crafts by Amanda. I just love the big eyes! 

This recipe is definitely calling my name, as it brings together not two but three of my favorite flavors! Find out how to make this Peanut Butter Cheesecake Brownies at One Crazy Cookie.

I'm always looking for new ideas for wall art. I just love this Floating Frame idea by Jan Dee Crafts.

Here's a fun idea for the kids.  Learn how to make these Fabric Mailboxes at Twelve Crafts Till Christmas. And as if this wasn't cute enough, she even made fabric stationary and fabric envelopes to go with these.

I'd love for you to be a part of Friday Favorites! Please link up your posts below! 

-Jerri

Sweet Thursday: Cake & Pie Edition

Welcome to the Sweet Thursday Cake & Pie Party! It seems like we just had the Cupcake Party a few days ago, but the calendar says it's Pie & Cake Day, so let's go!

Join The Party: If you have a pie or cake recipe you'd like to share with us, I invite you to link it up below. Old and new posts are welcome!

Next Month's Party:  July's theme is going to be Summer Desserts, so it's pretty much unlimited.  If you'd like to have a dessert featured at the event, please email your link  to me by Tuesday, July 20. The party post and linky will go up on Wednesday night, July 21.  

As always we have a lovely selection of yummies for you to feast your eyes upon. Thanks to everyone who sent in their items to be featured his month. It's not a party without you!

Father's Day Shirt/Tie Cake from Tiepedia

Perfect Chocolate Cake with Whip Cream Filling from a little bit of everything

White Chocolate Blueberry Cheesecake from Holy Cannoli Recipes

Shirt & Tie Cake from Tiepedia

Chocolate Fudge Cake from a little bit of everything

Chocolate Pie from Prior

Colorful Fondant from Craft Envy

Dressy Chocolate Cake from My Sweet and Savory 

  

Stars and Stripes Cake from Singing with Birds

Mario Cake from Craft Envy

Apple Blueberry Nut Cake fro Comfy Cook

Sour Cream Pound Cake from Simply Sweet Home

Party time! If you have pie or cake you'd like to share with us, link it up below! Please link up the URL to your actual post, so it will be easy for us to find your post.

-----------------------------------

I'm posting a link to this post on the following sites:
Tempt My Tummy Tuesday is hosted by Blessed With Grace.
Delicious Dishes is hosted by It's a Blog Party
Tuesday Tastes is hosted by Crazy Jayz Place
Homemaker Mondays is hosted by 11th Heaven’s Homemade Haven.
Tasty Tuesday is hosted by Balancing Beauty & Bedlam.
Works for Me Wednesday is hosted by We Are THAT Family
Tip Me Tuesday is hosted by Tip Junkie
Sharing Ideas Wednesday is hosted by The Trendy Treehouse
Friday Food is hosted by Mom Trends
Friday Foodie is hosted by Designs by Gollum
Finer Things Friday is hosted by Amy's Finer Things
I'm Lovin It Fridays is hosted by Tidy Mom


-Jerri

Febreze Home Collection Review and Wal-Mart Giveaway

Summer is almost upon us! It’s time to make your décor shine as brightly as the July sun. I can’t think of a better way to do that than with the Flameless Luminary™ or New No-Spill Diffuser from Febreze Home Collection. Both are beautifully designed and come in an array of scents.

I recently had the chance to try both of these Febreze products, and I was very pleased with their appearance, functionality, and of course, their scent!

Flameless Luminary

"Turn heads with the soft flickering glow of a Flameless Luminary. Once you have a reusable base, changing scents is as easy as changing shades."

I absolutely love the flameless luminary!  Whenever I light candles in my home, I have to keep a very close watch on them because we have 2 cats, so a flameless luminary is perfect for us.  The cherry blossom shade is very pretty, and it smells wonderful.  The scent fills the room, but it's not too overwhelming, and it truly does look a light a real candle is flickering inside.  I also love that the light shuts off automatically after 4 hours to help you save your batteries and also save you the trouble of turning it off and on. 

I'm also happy to report that I recieved some extra shades.  I recieved an additional Cherry Blossom shade, 2 Willow Blossom Shades, and 2 Cranberry Pear shades.  I love all 3 scents that I recieved, and I love that each scent has a different design.  This is great if you want everything in your room to match, and it's perfect if you like to change things up in your room.

I also love that this is easy to use and clean.  And it's great to have an air freshener that not only gives your home a nice scent but can also serve as a piece of home decor. I love that!

New No-Spill Wood Diffuser

"When you live with children and pets, accidents happen. Luckily the No-Spill Diffuser with WoodWick® ambiance makes spills a thing of the past. Good looking and thoughtful, too — it’s exactly what you’ve been looking for."

I also recieved the No-Spill Wood Diffuser.  I've used several forms of air freshener before, from the plug-ins, to can sprays, to candles, automatic sprays, and so forth, but I've never had a wood diffuser before.  And now that I've got my first one, I'm sure it won't be my last.

Again, this is great if you have pets because you don't have to worry about it getting spilled. The Wood Diffuser I received was Honeysuckle Orchid scented.  And let me tell you, it smells divine!  I've placed mine in the bathroom. We always keep our bathroom door shut so that the cats cannot go in unattended, so now whenever the door is opened the first thing I notice is the soft, sweet aroma of the diffuser.

Again, I love that this is easy to set up and use, and it's not messy.  This piece would also go great in any room, and unlike some other air fresheners, it's actually attractive and can blend in well with your decor.

More Products

The Febreze Home Collection is available in an array of premium designs and scents.  Products include the Scented Reed Diffuser, Soy Blend Candle, Room Spray, Flameless Luminary, and No-Spill Wood Diffuser.

Connect : 
~Febreze Home Collection on Facebook
~Febreze Home Collection at Walmart

Win it! To help you to try these Febreze Home Collection products, P&G has given me one $15 Walmart giftcard to award to one Simply Sweet Home reader. 


Giveaway closed. Congrats to DaMora at Mora Piggy!

-Jerri


Disclosure: I was not paid to write this post.  This product review was based on using complimentary Febreze products provided by P&G. Bloggers also received a Walmart gift card to share with their readers. P&G does not represent or warrant the accuracy of any statements or product claims made here, nor does it endorse any opinions expressed within this blogsite. The opinions are my own.

I Love Edward! (Edward's Pie, That is!)

No, this is not a Twilight post!  Sorry Edward fans!

With the Sweet Thursday Pie & Cake even coming up this Thursday, I decided to share our favorite store bought pie with you! Before I begin, I should tell you that Edward's isn't paying me or giving me free pie to write this post.  It's just a favorite at our house, so I decided to share it with you! 

I've never tried an Edwards Dessert that I didn't like! As a kid we always bought Edward's Lemon Meringue pie.  To this day, it's still one of my favorite pies.  But my husband's favorite and the one we buy most often is Edward's Hershey's Creme Pie.

This thing is so good it's almost indescribable, but I'll try!  The base is a soft chocolate cookie crust.  And the first layer, I would call a creamy, sweet, cream cheese fluff.  The next layer is a fluffy and rich chocolate mousse.  And it's then topped off with dollops of whipped topping and drizzled with sweet chocolate.  Sounds good, huh?

We find these in the freezer section at the store, and they're around $6 or so, here. And if the whole pie is too much for you, they also sell singles packs which include two slices of pie. Or you can purchase a single slice at Burger King for around $1.50. (We do this often, as BK is hubby's favorite fast food joint.)

Don't forget to come by Thursday and link up your pie and cake recipes!

-Jerri

-----------------------------------

I'm posting a link to this post on the following sites:
Tempt My Tummy Tuesday is hosted by Blessed With Grace.
Delicious Dishes is hosted by It's a Blog Party
Tuesday Tastes is hosted by Crazy Jayz Place
Homemaker Mondays is hosted by 11th Heaven’s Homemade Haven.
Tasty Tuesday is hosted by Balancing Beauty & Bedlam.
Works for Me Wednesday is hosted by We Are THAT Family
Tip Me Tuesday is hosted by Tip Junkie
Tackle it Tuesday is hosted by 5 Minutes for Mom
Sharing Ideas Wednesday is hosted by The Trendy Treehouse
Friday Food is hosted by Mom Trends
Friday Foodie is hosted by Designs by Gollum
Finer Things Friday is hosted by Amy's Finer Things
I'm Lovin It Fridays is hosted by Tidy Mom
Show off Your Stuff Thursday is hosted by Fireflies and Jellybeans

Cupcake Carnival at Attempting Creative

I'm excited to be guest posting today for the Cupcake Carnival at Attempting Creative!  Please stop by over there today and find out how to make Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Cupcakes!  Have a great Sunday!  And Happy Father's Day to all the dad's out there!

-Jerri

Friday Favorites - Week 17

Welcome to another edition of Friday Favorites.  If you're new to my blog, I invite you to join the party by linking up your favorite post(s) for the week! Before we get the party started, I have a couple of announcements to make.  First off, I'd like to remind you that the Sweet Thursday Pie & Cake event will be posted next Wednesday night! I already have several yummy treats to share with you, and I invite you all to stop by and link up your own recipes.  Also, if you'd like to be featured in the post, you have until Tuesday to email your submission in. 

Also, please check out my current giveaways. I'm running my $30 Kroger gift card giveaway a little longer than usual because it's for a good cause.  So there's still plenty of time to get lots of entries for tweeting and so forth. 

I'm also giving away a spool of craft ribbon.  This giveaway ends next week, and as of this writing, there's only about 30 entries, so there's a good chance of winning!  Also, I launched a new Canvas Print Giveaway.  We gave one of these away back in April, and there were a ton of entries.  So if you entered last time and didn't win, you should definitely try again!

And last but not least, I will be guest posting on Sunday for the Cupcake Carnival at Attempting Creative, so stop by over there and say hi!

Okay!  I think that's everything!  Now it's party time!  If you're blog is featured, please grab my "featured" button for your blog.  Thanks!

I just love Toy Story! So glad they finally made another one! Check out these Toy Story Activites from Something About Katie.

Lemon Pie is one of my childhood favorites.  Needless to say, I'm finding this Pink Lemonade Pie from Pumpkin Tart very tempting!

I love all the owl stuff that's out right now.  The little owls are so cute, including this Owl Purse frm Something About Katie.

Another lemon recipe to tempt me!  This Lemon Freeze came to us from Recipe Corner.

If you're looking for a unique way to give money as a gift, take a look at this Money Box tutorial with printables from Pittypat Paperie.

I can't wait to see you're posts for this week!  To help me promote this event, please include a link to my blog somewhere in your post or in your sidebar.  I really appreciate it!  Thanks so much for linking up with me!

-Jerri

Kitty Cat Treat Canister Tutorial

After seeing so many great mod podge projects last year, I finally starting trying it out this year.  So far I've only done a few projects, but I know they'll be more to come soon.

For one of my first projects, I decided to make a treat container for my kitty cats. By placing the treats out on the counter, I figure it would save me a little cabinet space and also serve as a reminder to give the cats their treats. And I was right! Plus, I now have a cute container to go along side my canister set. (And it's color coordinated. Yay!)

And even though Rebel and Dixie cannot read, they know exactly what's inside!  I simply have to hold the canister up and give it a shake, and the excitement begins.  And since it generally means that they get treats more often, they kitties give this idea 2 paws up!

What You'll Need:

An old container (I used an oatmeal canister, which can hold 2 pouches of the treats we buy, more if I took them out of the pounches, but I keep them in to maintain freshness.)

Scrapbook paper

Stickers

Mod Podge

Paint Brush

Ribbon (optional)

Instructions:  Choose two sheets of scrapbook paper that go well together.  Next lay your canister (or other container) down so that you can decide how much paper you'll need.  I used 12x12 sheets.  And my container was 6 1/2 inches tall, so I made the strip of paper for the bottom about 4 inches tall., and the strip for the top about 2 1/2 inches tall.  Just be careful not to cut it too short.  (You can always trim some off or allow the papers to overlap if it's too long, but if it's too short, you'll have to start over, use additional paper or trim.)

Before wrapping the paper around, make sure it will go all the way around.  My paper lacked about a fifth of an inch from going around all the way, so I had to mod podge a very thin strip of paper on first before wrapping the paper around.  (I put this towards to the back, but in fact it actually doesn't look too bad.  However, it does blend in better with the plaid paper than with the solid.)

Apply a thin coat of mod podge to your paper with your paint brush.  Then wrap the paper carefully around the container.  (It doesn't really matter which order, but I chose to mod podge the top piece first.  Smooth out any wrinkles or air bubbles.  Also be sure that the edges (seam) of the paper are well coated with the mod podge.  I used the tip of my brush to light press on the seams.  Allow mod podge to dry.

Next add your stickers.

Now wrap your ribbon or trim around the container for measuring purposes.  Cut off the amount your need.  Apply a coat of mod podge to the ribbon, and place the ribbon around the container.  Again smooth out any wrinkles, and make sure the ends of the ribbon are well attached.  All to dry.

Finally take your paint brush and apply a light coat of mod podge over all the surfaces of your container.  Allow to dry. And you're done! 

Now place your treats inside, give it a rattle, and watch the pets go crazy!

 

-Jerri

----------------------------
I'm posting a link to this post at:
Homemaker Mondays at 11th Heaven's Homemade Haven
Tackle it Tuesday at 5 Minutes For Mom
It’s So Very Creative & It's So Very Thrifty hosted by It’s So Very Cheri
Make it for Monday hosted by Cottage Instincts
Made it Mondays hosted by The Persimmon Perch
Making the World Cuter Monday hosted by Making the World Cuter
Make Your Monday hosted by Twice Remembered
Metamorphosis Monday hosted by Between Naps on the Porch
DIY Day at A Soft Place to Land
Market Yourself Monday is hosted by Sumos Sweet Stuff
Marketing Mondays and Sharing Ideas Wednesday is hosted by The Trendy Treehouse
What Your Working with Wednesday is hosted by Me and My Bucket
Show & Tell Wednesday is hosted by Blue Cricket Design
Tip Me Tuesday is hosted by Tip Junkie
Week End Review is hosted by Tator Tots & Jello
Star on Saturday is hosted by Craft-Werk
Penny Pinching Party is hosted by The Thrifty Home
Show & Tell Friday is hosted by Romantic Home
I'm Loving it Fridays is hosted by Tidy Mom

Rolled Canvas Print Giveaway

Have you ever seen a print on canvas?    Large Format Posters offer professional quality canvas prints.  I recently ordered a canvas print of my favorite wedding photo, and it turned out beautiful! 

This month everyone has the chance to win a rolled canvas print of a photo of your choice.  Your print will be a 16x20, and your photo will be printed on a thick, high quality artist canvas with a matte finish. Poly-cotton blend makes this canvas ultra durable.

This would be a great chance to get a professional canvas print of your wedding photo, a family photo, or a photo of your children.  Or it would make a fabulous gift for someone.

Win it!  One Simply Sweet Home Reader will win one 16x20 Rolled Canvas with FREE shipping included.  To win, simply leave a comment telling us how you would use this prize. 

Giveaway Closed. Congrats to our winner Stacia at The Domestic Engineer Blogs!

-Jerri

Full Disclosure: I was not monetarily compensated for this post.  For hosting this giveaway I will recieve a free 16x20 canvas print.

Mahi Mahi - The Catch of the Day!

Believe it or not, I'm not real big on seafood!  It just wasn't something we ate a lot in our home growing up (except for Captain D's! lol.)  But in the past few years, I have grown more open to it.  But still my favorites remain shrimp or just a simple white filet.  But Mr. Simply Sweet Home grew up in Mobile, right near the gulf, so he's just the opposite of me! He loves seafood, and he's probably tried just about everything.  In fact he tells me the fried catfish sold in resturants "up here" is not real seafood.

One of his favorite restaurant "down there" is Wintzell's Oyster House.  (If you ever take a trip to Gulf Shores or Mobile, you should definitely check it out. They not only have great food, but they have fun sayings written all over the wall, which you can read while you wait for your food.  They also have other locations in Alabama, one in Mississippi, and one coming to Pensacola, Florida soon.) 

Anyway, my husband always gets a platter of oysters for an appetizer and Mahi Mahi for his meal.  Mahi Mahi is very similar to tilapia.  It's also known as dolphin-fish, but don't worry!  I'm happy to report that it has nothing to do with the dolphins (which are mammals),  that we typically think of when we hear dolphin.  

Several months ago  I was looking at the fish in the store, and I just happened to run across some fresh mahi mahi. Admittedly mine looks nothing like the stuff at Wintzell's.  They put all kinds of stuff on top of it. (I've only seen it a couple of times, so I can't remember what).  But hubby likes mine too (as he should, since he's the one that told me how I should make it when I had no idea). And even I, the "non-seafood lover" like it!  So that should be a good endorsement! 

This post was featured for the People's Choice Award at Tuesday Tastes.

Recipe for Mahi Mahi:

Ingredients:

Mahi Mahi filets (I always eat one, but most people would probably want 2.)

Italian Dressing

Lemon Pepper Seasoning

Directions:  Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Dip filets in Italian Dressing.  Top with additional dressing if necessary. (After dipping, I always take any dressing left in the bowl and pour it on top of the filets.  Place on baking sheet.  (I usually line mine with tin foil for easy cleaning.) Spinkle with lemon peper seasoning. Bake for 20 minutes or until done.

-Jerri
-----------------------------------

I'm posting a link to this post on the following sites:
Tempt My Tummy Tuesday is hosted by Blessed With Grace.
Delicious Dishes is hosted by It's a Blog Party
Tuesday Tastes is hosted by Crazy Jayz Place
Homemaker Mondays is hosted by 11th Heaven’s Homemade Haven.
Tasty Tuesday is hosted by Balancing Beauty & Bedlam.
Works for Me Wednesday is hosted by We Are THAT Family
Tip Me Tuesday is hosted by Tip Junkie
Tackle it Tuesday is hosted by 5 Minutes for Mom
Sharing Ideas Wednesday is hosted by The Trendy Treehouse
Friday Food is hosted by Mom Trends
Friday Foodie is hosted by Designs by Gollum
Finer Things Friday is hosted by Amy's Finer Things
I'm Lovin It Fridays is hosted by Tidy Mom
Show off Your Stuff Thursday is hosted by Fireflies and Jellybeans

Friday Favorites - Week 16

It's week 16 of Friday Favorites!  This week I have a couple of fun craft tutorials and some sweet summer treats to share with you.  Hope you enjoy them!

Don't forget that you can get an extra entry in all my giveaways just for linking up!  I have a few posted this week, including a $30 Kroger giftcard! You can find links to all my giveaways at the top of the blog.

Also, if anyone's interested in guest posting on Simply Sweet Home, please send me an email.  Sometimes I have things going on that keep me from posting as much as I'd like, and it would be great to fill the void with a guest post every now and then. I had planned on doing a special post about this, but I thought I'd let my Friday participants have the first chance to volunteer.

Now on with the party! If you're featured this week, please grab my "featured" button!

If you're looking for ideas for a healthy treat this summer, you could try this Strawberry Granola Parfait fromWith a Grateful Prayer and a Thankful Heart.

I just love this Kid's Art Folder from Just Sew Sassy. Go check out the great tutorial!

Here's a cute summer cupcake idea! Heather from Twin Dragonfly Designs made these Pink Lemonade Cupcakes.  Yum!

 

I've seen some lovely individual silhouette wall hangings and even pillows in the last few months. Now here's a project for the whole family (literally). This Silhouette Art idea is from Cannary Family.

And another yummy treat for the summer! Learn how to make your own watermelon cookies at Amanda's Cooking.

Join the party by linking up your post below! Please leave a link to your actual post rather than your blog so that we can easily find your post. And please help me advertise this event by including a link to my blog in your posts. Thanks for stopping in this week!

-Jerri